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Submitted: February 29, 2008
Image Size: 662 KB
Resolution: 2440×1243

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Fear in a Handful of Dustby `Laurazee

Traditional Art / Mixed Media / Abstract

Mixed media on canvas, 24” x 48”
Acrylic, marble dust, ash, paste, various glazes.

T.S. Eliot’s great modernist poem, The Waste Land, is more meaningful to me now than when I was a young third year English major and had to do a whole semester on it. The Editors of The Norton Anthology of English Literature say that the poem "is about spiritual dryness, about the kind of existence in which no regenerating belief gives significance and value to men's daily activities, sex brings no fruitfulness, and death heralds no resurrection." So it is just the thing that a slightly jaded corporate project manager needs to be reading on the symbolic eve of her midlife crisis.

This painting is inspired by the following series of lines, 19 to 30, from the first section, The Burial of the Dead. The biblical drama always appealed to me.

What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow
Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man,
You cannot say, or guess, for you know only
A heap of broken images, where the sun beats,
And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief,
And the dry stone no sound of water. Only
There is shadow under this red rock,
(Come in under the shadow of this red rock),
And I will show you something different from either
Your shadow at morning striding behind you
Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you;
I will show you fear in a handful of dust.

Classic mortality theme. Big tip, if you’re up to reading the whole poem: water = faith, but not necessarily religion – just faith (hope, willingness to live and carry on, and so on). Strangely, the poem does end on an upbeat note. One could also read a big fat carpe diem into it. Shantih.

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`Laurazee Mar 16, 2008 Professional Traditional Artist

Tee hee! Yes, E., it's terribly close to bursting actually.

~Arum1966 Mar 10, 2008 Professional Traditional Artist

This makes me think of creeping evil. Very well executed. You have such varied styles and always an awesome and original grasp on color. Great texture.

`Laurazee Mar 11, 2008 Professional Traditional Artist

Thanks, Mark. I totally see some kind of evil or malignancy in it too - and I am glad you picked up on it (though I suspect you're sensitive to that stuff!)

~giorjoe Mar 9, 2008 Professional General Artist

Interesting texture.
As if a bunch of people were crowding together on the right, seeking protection from each other.

`Laurazee Mar 10, 2008 Professional Traditional Artist

Interesting interpretation - I like it! There is definitely a sense of something clustered together. I almost see some kind of malignancy.

~Dragonfly22 Mar 9, 2008 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

this is really interesting! I loved the literary composition, also

`Laurazee Mar 10, 2008 Professional Traditional Artist

Thank you! That is very kind. I do adore TS Eliot's Waste Land poem - it is so full of imagery and drama.

~Dragonfly22 Mar 10, 2008 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

indeed

*pesare Mar 7, 2008 Professional

Powerfull work! So much energy and emotion...

`Laurazee Mar 8, 2008 Professional Traditional Artist

Coming from one with such talent and style as you, Pete, I am truly honoured by your comment. Thank you!!

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